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katewilkins's review against another edition
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical content, and Pregnancy
tiahnaparis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I picked up a copy of Straight Man after seeing Stan advertise the at the time upcoming series Lucky Hank based on the novel. I love comparing adaptations, so despite reviews labelling it hit or miss, and the main character unlikeable, I pressed on. I’m glad I did because I instantly fell for Russo’s writing style and the resulting book was so charming, funny, and enrapturing, it reminded me of all the things I love about reading (and made me subsequently nervous about the TV adaptation living up to its predecessor!)
The wit was right up my alley and I'm not sure if it's a clash in senses of humor or cultural (shit stirring/ gentle ribbing is very common in Aussie cultures) but I did not agree at all with the reviews describing the main character as so unlikable it distracted from the rest of the book. TO each their own, though.
The wit was right up my alley and I'm not sure if it's a clash in senses of humor or cultural (shit stirring/ gentle ribbing is very common in Aussie cultures) but I did not agree at all with the reviews describing the main character as so unlikable it distracted from the rest of the book. TO each their own, though.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Excrement, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
sarahbythebook's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
I am not the target audience for this book. If I were a cishet white man, maybe I would have enjoyed the humor more.
The main character is an ass, there’s some fat phobia, gross references to academic abuse of power (college), animal death, and way too much focus on one guy’s penis.
I’m a little squigged out by the fact that a (white male) former professor of mine recommended this to me, but I think it has more to do with my experience and dislike of higher education—there were parts that were genuinely funny, and I can see some of the truth in the satire of a college department with an unwilling head. The sexual humor was just too off base for me personally.
The main character is an ass, there’s some fat phobia, gross references to academic abuse of power (college), animal death, and way too much focus on one guy’s penis.
I’m a little squigged out by the fact that a (white male) former professor of mine recommended this to me, but I think it has more to do with my experience and dislike of higher education—there were parts that were genuinely funny, and I can see some of the truth in the satire of a college department with an unwilling head. The sexual humor was just too off base for me personally.
Graphic: Infidelity
Minor: Animal death
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